Startup Weekend Oakland invites community members, business leaders and techies to solve global issues related to education, health, restorative justice and sustainability. The underlying theme is “Building a Silicon Valley that lives up to Dr. King’s dream” and is the first global hackathon for Black Male Achievement. The vision for this groundbreaking event presents the question “Could an app have saved Trayvon Martin?” says Kalimah Priforce, a 2013 Echoing Green BMA Fellow and Co-Founder of Qeyno Labs, the host for this historic event.

Co-lead organizer Todd Bachmann came up with the idea when he started thinking about the deaf and blind community and the potential technology innovation. He wanted to figure out how Startup Weekend could work into that and met Cory Klatik, a blind social media manager for Intel and four-time Startup Weekend attendee. “He helped me realize the weekend could be stronger in its accessibility offerings for the entire disabled community — not just the visual and hearing impaired communities — and inspired me to co-organize the event with him to do that just that.” Bachmann explained.

Block notes that women are starting businesses at a faster rate than men, but are not scaling their businesses, often because they don’t have the support they need. “Sometimes it might just be an introduction,” she says. Block says she wants to be a good role model and help women reach their potential. She’s giving a kickoff speech at the Women’s Startup Weekend, and will be a coach. By gearing the event toward women, Block says organizers hoped to see a better turnout of women than a traditional Startup Weekend. (Another is planned March 7-9). See also: ND Women’s Startup Weekend a smashing success

While it originated as a simple food pre-ordering system, he, together with his team Albert Go and Ian Rojas, “pivoted to a healthy food delivery platform during Startup Weekend Manila.” The startup ranked second in the Startup Weekend Manila held in 2013. For its soft launch, which is targeted before the end of this month, MetroPlate has established a partnership with healthy food caterer Rice Labs as its main supplier for food.

“Everyone has been paying attention to entrepreneurs in the middle of big cities because there is more exposure and access,” she said. “Meanwhile, independent, rural entrepreneurs have been quietly finding new ways to generate food to feed the world and do traditional tasks smarter and faster with technology.”

Startup Weekend is a global network of entrepreneurs that has organized events in more than 400 cities worldwide to inspire, educate and empower online communities and users with a culture of entrepreneurship. Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana and Monterrey are cities with the highest levels of startup activity in Mexico, according to Hernández.

Claire Topalian(@clairetopalian) Blog, Professional Writing, Communications and PR Specialist. I craft compelling, mission-driven content for companies and individuals that amplifies brand awareness, fosters community, and drives engagement. My experience includes work with tech startups, major corporations, and international non-profits. @clairetopalian